Principal of Milliones resigns for family reasons

There is more to this from my point of view:

Principal of Milliones resigns for family reasons: "The principal of the Pittsburgh Public Schools' university-partnership school is resigning.

Sito Narcisse, who joined the district about a year ago and oversaw the opening in August of Pittsburgh Milliones in the Hill District, will leave at the end of the school year for family reasons, district spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said yesterday.

Dr. Narcisse said he's leaving because his wife, Dr. Zania Narcisse, has accepted a residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12, a highly touted part of the district's high-school improvement campaign, operates under a partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. It opened with about 130 ninth-graders with plans to evolve into a school for grades six through 12.

'We've made a lot of progress,' Dr. Narcisse said.

I understand that the principal got in some trouble for giving us a tour and having me along with the video camera. Unreal.

So, a month later when a tour of Pittsburgh Peabody was held -- no video cameras were permitted. Homeland security was the excuse.

Pittsburgh Public Schools lost a good principal who had done the right things by me in terms of being open.

Meanwhile, stay tuned for another example with a email that came to me from a top administrator. I don't blog about it yet as it resides in a cooling off period.

Meet Mark Brentley, candidate for Pittsburgh City Council

Clips of only Mark Brentley, Sr, from the Uptown Partnership community meeting on April 22, 2009.

NRA files suit to overturn Pittsburgh's stolen gun law

Told ya.

NRA files suit to overturn Pittsburgh's stolen gun law: The National Rifle Association and four individuals filedsuit today against the city of Pittsburgh, its city council and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to overturn legislation passed in December that compels gun owners to report the loss or theft of their firearms to law enforcement within 24 hours of becoming aware that the weapon is missing.

Ignorance is bliss.

Fly a flag and do it with purpose

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release

For more information, contact: Dr. Al Graham (412) 460-1166

Mike Ference, The Brand Shop, Inc. (412) 233-5491 FAX: (412) 233-4765, E-mail: Ference@icubed.com Web-site: TheBrandShopInc.com

Fifth annual flag party, plants the seed for patriotism

West Mifflin, PA – April 24, 2009 – Plans for the fifth annual red, white and blue flag celebration – honoring our country’s birth – is being finalized by Dr. Albert Graham, West Mifflin Chiropractor, school board member and neighborhood flag raiser. What has come to be known as their family red, white and blue trademark – the American flag – is the result of the Graham’s annual July 4th celebration.”

Graham and his cohorts hope to take the promotion to the national level. “Every local television station has covered the event. Local radio and TV celebrity, Marty Griffin, from KDKA twice invited me on as a guest on his morning radio talk show, I told his listeners how we honor or soldiers and how we celebrate the fourth of July in West Mifflin. The event made the front pages of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Trib Media daily newspapers and several weekly and monthly publications did feature stories,” Dr. Graham proudly states.

“This is our five-year anniversary and we want to make it bigger and better than the last four years combined,” Dr. Graham predicted. With the help of local leaders, almost one-thousand flags were planted on West Mifflin lawns last year. “This year we hope to double that amount and expand into other Mon Valley towns,” says Dr. Graham.

Contributions to purchase flags came from State Senator Jay Costa, State Representative Bill Kortz Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey and West Mifflin Mayor John Andzelik. Dr. Graham looks forward to their continued support and hopes to secure corporate sponsors, media sponsors and more volunteers to spread his rendition of a star-spangled-bannered-community throughout the Mon Valley.

“As a veteran of the armed services, my family appreciates what our men and women have done in Iraq and all over the world. We hope when West Mifflin residents awake on July 4th and see the American flags waving in their yards, they will feel the same way,” Graham proudly points out.

In the meantime, the Grahams continue to solicit family and friends for additional help. Besides his wife Cathy and three sons Matthew, Joshua and Ryan, plenty of friends and relatives from the West Mifflin area participate in the flag-brigade every year. “There’s not a better way to teach patriotism, than to live it,” says Cathy Graham, a teacher in the West Mifflin Area School District.

The flags used in the promotion are all USA-made. Anyone who would like to follow Dr. Graham’s lead and display 8 x 12 American flags may contact Dr. Graham at his office in the West Mifflin Borough building near the county airport at 412-460-1166.

Robinson, Dowd take on Ravenstahl, gun legislation

There is nothing unpopular about this message

Robinson, Dowd take on Ravenstahl, gun legislation “I feel we spend way too much time on legislation banning guns and not enough time putting money into the community,” Robinson said. “We are misplaced in our thinking of where we should be putting our money.”

Pittsburgh Controller Lamb considers run for U.S. Senate

Pittsburgh Controller Lamb considers run for U.S. Senate: "City Controller Michael Lamb is weighing a bid for the Democratic nomination in next year's U.S. Senate race."

Run Michael Run, because we need a controller to get a grip on the city. So far, I'm less than impressed. Perhaps you could take Wayne Fontana, D, PA Senator, with you as your chief of staff.

April 28 from 7 to 8:30 pm

All pro dad so hills flyer

Pittsburgh Public Schools

South Hills Chapter

Male/Father Involvement Program

Be in the picture

My wife recently told me about a boy who drew a family picture with himself, his mother and brothers and sisters, but his father was not in the drawing. When asked, the boy responded, "My dad's at work where he always is." That describes too many of us. Do you struggle with work/family life tension? You're not alone.

About Us

All Pro Dad is A Family First's innovative program helping men to become better fathers. All Pro Dad has 54 NFL spokesmen, including our own Mike Tomlin, multiple events with NFL teams, over 1,000 All Pro Dad's Day chapters, and Play of the Day daily emails that reach 40,000 fathers each day.

You Don’t Have To Be a Dad

You can be a grandfather, uncle or a big brother. What’s important
is male involvement. All children need a strong male role model in
their life, We want to know If you have any questions or would like
to get involved but can’t attend this meeting contact Chris
Waraks/Team Captain at PPSProDad@msn.com or 412-720-2051 or Mark Conner at mconner1@pghboe.net or call 412-622-3941.

Join us Thursday May 7^th at Pittsburgh Brookline k-5 from 6:30 to 8:00

Refreshments
will be served so please RSVP to Wanda Spencer at
wspencer1@pghboe.net
or call at 412-622-3617.

Tonya Payne should have been in this chair.

Updated. If the video does not show yet, it is still in process mode at Youtube. Check back soon.

Part 1:



She was a 'no show.'

People at the neighborhood group were disappointed. People in the audience were let down too.

Tonya Payne, we missed you.

Video from the other candidates with the courage and courtesy to appear is going to be uploaded shortly.

The Uptown Partners quarterly community meeting candidate forum, hosted on April 22, 2009, at 6 pm at Miryams Place, 1410 Fifth Ave. The open was with Renee P. Aldrich, Co-President of Uptown Partners. Reports from Jean McNutt, Chair of the Economic and Development Committee of Uptown Partners. Leadership Pittsburgh was there to talk about Pop Up Pittsburgh, slated for May, 30, 2009 around Gist Street.

Moderated by Evan Stoddard, Acting Dead, McNaulty College of Grad Studies at Duquesne.

Candidates Mark Brentley, Sr. and Daniel Lavelle were there.

Reposted (same as above) of opening statements, but via Rauterkus.blip.tv.



More to come, still.

Part 2: The pressing need for localized leadership:



Same on Blip.TV (part 2 of 3)




Final segment and highlight from Mark Brentley about crime, via YouTube.com.



Final from Blip.TV:

DetentionSlip.org: Ohio school bans teacher-student texting

Interesting.

DetentionSlip.org: Ohio school bans teacher-student texting: "The fact that these issues have to be addressed is troubling enough. There should not be a fine line between professionalism and non-professionalism. These are your students. You should not have to consider them when you are choosing monthly cell phone plans.

Happy Earth Day

From Public Art

Mayor urges council to allow curfew center

You're schedule is blown, big time. You're reasoning is not clear as well.

Mayor urges council to allow curfew center 'We were on schedule to open the curfew center on May 1 of this year,' Mr. Ravenstahl said. Because of council's 'continuing delays, now we can't meet that deadline.'

The city works best when the typical process of spending money is followed. A bill that goes before city council must have a public hearing if it is requested. One is slated. Then, after the public hearing, the bill can advance.

If the mayor wants quick passage of the spending of $500,000 -- then he might be asking for a chance to pull the wool over the eyes of the citizens without due process.

There is no proof that the $500,000 is going to save one person's life.

Gun backers move to head off controls

Gun backers move to head off controls: "He said his bill is meant to 'financially deter and/or punish' municipalities that 'blatantly violate' state law. The state code doesn't let localities 'regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms.'

'This is ludicrous,' said city Councilman Bruce Kraus, when informed of Mr. Metcalfe's effort.

'This is just an attempt to bully municipalities into submission.'

The submission part swirls around and around in this saga. That's the only thing Mr. Kraus says that makes sense.

The oath of office for elected officials includes the pledge to uphold the PA Constitution. Way back when, I took candidate Kraus to task for saying he would go into office to serve the people of the district and that is where his oath would be directed -- and where his 'service' would be a slave to. He didn't know that the oath is really to the constitutions.

All in all, it is good that he is only cheerleading and not trying to introduce bills that are at odds with the purpose of city council.

Gun laws from local governments won't work.

Ravenstahl's statement about getting these types of weapons (assault weapons perhaps) out of the hands of criminals in the wake of the shootings in Stanton Heights is bogus. From what I know, the gag order is being broken by the mayor. And, at 6 am on the day of the killings the guy with the gun was NOT a criminal, rather a citizen. Furthermore, there are laws that exist today that make it illegal for convicted criminals to posses guns.

So, either Luke Ravenstahl is miss-quoted or miss-speaking or just goffy.

Perhaps he wants to get rid of guns from all citizens -- not just criminals?????

For your review:

"If [Mr. Metcalfe] and the entire General Assembly weren't moved by the events here on April 4, and don't realize that these types of weapons need to be out of the hands of criminals and we need to make sure that local gun laws are put in place, I don't know what will" move them, the mayor said.

Will I be able to bring my video camera to this event -- or NOT?

City Charter High School and Propel School
Two Pittsburgh Nationally Recognized Schools That Work? Find out WHY? RSVP....

Tuesday, May 12th at 8:30 am (Bagels and Coffee) with 9:00 am Presentations and Discussion Begins at BGC Community Activity Center, 113 N. Pacific Avenue.

RSVP to: Rickf@bloomfield-garfield.org
Websites of schools:

http://www.cityhigh.org/Cityhigh/Homepage.aspx

http://www.propelschools.org

The issue of academic progress and student achievement is at the heart of most discussions related to education. A Plus Schools, a local non-profit monitoring public education, reports several Pittsburgh Public Schools struggle to increase academic achievement. As the district begins to make decisions about under-populated schools; academic achievement has become a community priority.

The part of the discussion that focuses on student achievement in these instances revolves around some poor statistics on grades, SAT and other standardized test scores; student retention and graduation rates in some of these schools. The District has implied that proposed and potential facility and curriculum changes would have a positive impact on these statistics.

Meanwhile, two Southwestern PA charter schools -- City Charter High School and Propel School -- were among the top 21 charter schools honored in 2009 by New Leaders for New Schools, a nonprofit that focuses on school leadership. The schools' programs have infused technology and educational supports to provide an environment of success.

Students at both schools have shown a dramatic increase in educational achievement, as measured by state test results in reading and math that factor the impact of a school on its students' achievement over time; and the progress students make from one year to the next, independent of proficiency targets.

Interested in learning what works and why? Representatives from City Charter High School and Propel School will present their educational models, curriculums, educational challenges/solutions, and approaches to community/parents engagement on Tuesday, May 12 at the BGC Community Activity Center, 113 N. Pacific Ave. in Garfield. Bagels and coffee at 8:30 a.m., followed by the presentation and discussion at 9 a.m.

Please RSVP to Rickf@bloomfield-garfield.org or call 412-441-9833.

Fixing economy, youth, schools -- the proper way. Wonderful presentation!

Tanyas Story Youth Entrepreneurship In America NFTE Presentation 4 20 09

View more presentations from Julie Kantor.

The business class with the NFTE text book is being taught at CAPA High School and Allderdice High School. So far, it isn't being taugh, to my knowledge at any other city high school. And, it should be an elective at every high school in the city. I want the class to be offered at Schenley / IB so my kid can take it.

My son, while in 7th grade, did take a couple of classes as part of his gifted education experience that are along these lines. One class called for them to write their own business plan. He loved that class. He has had excellent teachers there.

City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel

Professor Stoddard is a friend of mine. I'll try to go and bring my video camera.

City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel: "City Council candidates to speak at Uptown panel
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh City Council in District 6 are expected to participate in a candidate forum at 6 tonight at Miryam's, 1410 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

Incumbent Tonya Payne and challengers Mark A. Brentley Sr. and Daniel R. Lavelle will participate a panel discussion and answer questions from residents during a program moderated by Dr. Evan Stoddard, acting dean of the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts at Duquesne University.

The forum is sponsored by the neighborhood group Uptown Partners."

Clean Water Action and School Bus Polution

Clean Water Action: "Protect Pittsburgh Kids' Health: Cut School Bus Diesel Pollution

Allegheny County Council head touts natural gas drilling

Allegheny County Council head touts natural gas drilling Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald plans to introduce legislation tonight that he said will establish a county policy on increasing energy efficiency and yield homeowners about $55 million in property tax reduction by tapping into the county's natural gas reserves.

Describing his proposal as a 'bold economic development initiative,' Mr. Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, said the county should set in motion a plan to start extracting, using and selling the natural gas contained in the area's Marcellus shale, believed to be one of the biggest natural gas reserves in the country.

PNC pledges $6 million for pre-school science program

PNC pledges $6 million for pre-school science program: "The PNC Foundation, which already has a Grow Up Great program aimed at preschoolers, today announced a Grow Up Great with Science program that will expand science opportunities for preschool children in seven states and the District of Columbia."

Third Pittsburgh mayoral debate is back on

The internet is open and always on.

Third Pittsburgh mayoral debate is back on She said the two-day delay was necessary because the station 'can't preempt prime-time' and Saturday night was the first slot the station had open.

Rather than make news and then not put it on the air and out for the public to see -- put the debate onto the internet as it happens. Then air the debate program on May 2.